SHELDON KEEFE MEDIA AVAILABILITY
RALEIGH, N.C, - The Devils arrive in Carolina knowing what the challenge looks like and what it will take to get through it.
It is a building that has not been easy for them, against a team that plays with pressure, structure, and pace. For New Jersey, the focus is not on changing anything. It is on staying with what has been working.
“Just gotta stay with it, not overthink it,” head coach Sheldon Keefe said. “Be excited to play in an atmosphere like this, but not overthink it or change our game.”
The Devils have liked their game in this matchup, even if the results have not followed this season. Keefe pointed back to their last meeting, where New Jersey controlled play early but could not finish its chances.
“Process was good,” Keefe said. “We were unable to score and unable to stay with it for 60 minutes, which is exactly what it takes if you’re going to compete with this team.”
That has been the difference.
In that game, the Devils created more than enough offense to win.
“We got in alone on the goaltender nine times in that game and nothing to show for it,” Keefe said.
Everything leading up to that point was working. The breakouts were clean, the rush chances were there, and the Devils were able to attack with pace.
“Loved how we broke out, loved our play on the rush, loved the chances,” Keefe said. “Everything went great until we crossed the blue line.”
CONFIDENCE HIGHER
Now, the Devils believe they are in a different place. The confidence is higher, and the execution has started to follow.
“I think we’re in a different place in terms of our confidence here now,” Keefe said. “We’re not going to change anything, just get right back to it.”
Carolina forces teams to earn everything. Their pressure pushes play to the walls and limits space, making it difficult to create clean looks.
“They want to push everything to the walls, they don’t give you a lot of space,” Keefe said.
For the Devils, the solution is not to force plays, but to work through that pressure and get to the middle of the ice.
“We talk a lot about getting the puck off the wall, getting into the middle of the ice,” Keefe said.
That approach has helped the Devils generate offense when they are at their best, and it will be key again in this matchup.
Against a team like Carolina, it also has to last. The margin is thin, and games can turn quickly.
“You’ve got to execute, and you’ve got to be really good on special teams,” Keefe said. “And then it takes a full sixty minutes against a team like this.”
The Devils have shown they can play with Carolina. They have generated chances and controlled stretches of play. Now, it is about finishing those chances and sustaining their game from start to finish.
“You can outscore your problems, but you can’t play that way,” Keefe said.
“I would like to see our team be one that can score while defending and can defend while scoring.”
JACK'S IMPACT
Keefe, the impact of Jack Hughes on the Devils’ offense is clear. When Hughes is in the lineup and feeling right, the results tend to follow.
“When he’s in the lineup healthy with two hands, we’re right about .700 hockey,” Keefe said.
Keefe pointed to two stretches in particular — coming out of training camp and again after the Olympic break — where the Devils were playing their best hockey with Hughes driving the attack.
“Coming out of training camp… we’re 12-4-1,” Keefe said, noting also the team's 9-5-0 record since the Olympics for a total of 21-9-1.
Beyond the numbers, it is about what Hughes brings to the group offensively.
“When Jack is in, Luke is in, those guys are able to kind of get us to that next step,” Keefe said.
Keefe noted that the difference often comes in that next play. The one that turns a chance into a goal.
With Jack Hughes healthy, that part of the game has started to come back.
